The Washington Commanders face an uphill battle if they are going to pull off one of many largest upsets within the 2024-25 NFL playoffs on Saturday.
Defeating the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions (15-2) will not be simple, however historical past is likely to be on the scrappy Commanders’ facet coming into the competition.
In keeping with CBS Sports activities, solely 4 groups in NFL historical past have gained 9 or extra video games by six or fewer factors in a single season (together with the playoffs). Washington this yr is amongst them with 9, however one factor it hasn’t executed but that the opposite three have is make it to the Tremendous Bowl.
The 2003 Carolina Panthers led the group with 10 wins and took part in Tremendous Bowl XXXVIII (finally a last-second loss).
The 2020 and 2022 Kansas Metropolis Chiefs additionally sit with 9 wins however went 1-1 of their respective Tremendous Bowl appearances.
So, it is actually not out of the query for the six-seed Commanders to proceed enjoying their model of soccer and discover themselves within the huge sport on the finish of all of it.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels, who’s enjoying lights-out, would develop into the first rookie passer to appear in a Super Bowl in NFL historical past.
Daniels has been a important cog within the Commanders’ offense, which has scored 20 or extra factors in all however two video games this yr. Even with a crew nearly as good as Detroit on deck subsequent, they cannot be counted out.
Washington has gained six straight, with the final 5 ending inside a six-point margin. It can want both an offensive explosion or a defensive smothering to eke out what would possible go down as one of many largest victories in crew historical past.
